Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel have launched the latest edition of their popular Brand the Bus competition, offering a prize package worth £100,000 to a local charity or good cause in Oxfordshire.
Nominations open from Monday 02 March, ahead of a public voting period in April. The annual initiative gives one winning organisation the opportunity to have its branding displayed across the city on a fully wrapped electric double-decker bus, alongside an extensive digital and media campaign.
Last year, children’s mental health charity One-Eighty was selected as the winner. Helen & Douglas House, recognised as the world’s first children’s hospice, was named runner-up, while Sobell House received the second runner-up prize.
With the backing of Get Radio and Oxford City Football Club, this year’s competition will again provide a comprehensive £100,000 prize package.
The winning charity will receive a year-long full-wrap advertisement on an electric double-decker bus, free onboard advertising across Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel services, radio promotion on Get Radio, and recognition as Oxford City’s charity of choice for the 2026/27 season.
Luke Marion, Managing Director of Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel, said: “We care deeply about the communities we serve, and believe strongly in giving back and supporting worthy causes.
“Brand the Bus helps elevate causes and charities, amplifying and reinforcing their message across the county.
“We’re proud to be running Brand the Bus in Oxfordshire for the eighth consecutive year, which has got stronger year-on-year. It is a partnership-based campaign centred on shared community values, and we’re pleased Get Radio and Oxford City Football Club have committed to another year.
“We’re looking forward to seeing which good causes enter and would like to remind people that the more votes a charity receives, the better chance it will make the top 10 and reach the judging panel.”
Previous winners of the initiative include Girlguiding Oxfordshire, Home-Start Oxfordshire, Blue Skye Thinking, Restore, SeeSaw, Oxford Hospitals Charity and One-Eighty.
Read more: One-Eighty wins Oxford Bus Company’s 2025 Brand the Bus Competition
Susie Besant, Chief Executive and co-founder of One-Eighty, said: “Winning Brand the Bus has been a fantastic opportunity for One-Eighty.
“Seeing our bus travel across Oxford, carrying our message of turning young lives around, has been both powerful and inspiring for our team.
“The campaign is raising awareness of the 16,654 local young people who are slipping through the net for vital support and has given us a platform to share how One-Eighty can support them.
“The support from Oxford Bus Company, Get Radio and Oxford City has been great and we are looking forward to continuing our partnership so that together we can continue to impact more young lives who need our support. We would wholeheartedly encourage other charities to enter this unique and impactful competition.”
In addition to the top prize, a runner-up package worth £5,000 will be awarded, including on-bus digital advertising. Winners will be selected based on how well they fulfil the competition brief, with the successful charity working alongside Oxford Bus Company on the final bus design. The branded vehicle is expected to launch in autumn 2026.
